Report: Chargers expected to relocate to LA

SAN DIEGO – A report on ESPN.com Thursday said that the San Diego Chargers are "expected to exercise the team’s option” to relocate to Los Angeles.

According to ESPN, sources told Jim Trotter that the move is expected, "barring a miracle." Chargers Chairman Dean Spanos must notify the NFL by the January 15, 2017 deadline that he plans to move the Chargers from San Diego to Los Angeles, ESPN reported.

Trotter tweeted Thursday that he has "never been more pessimistic about Chargers staying in SD" and that he would be "SHOCKED if team isn't in LA next year."

I've never been more pessimistic about Chargers staying in SD. Based on all I'm hearing I'd be SHOCKED if team isn't in LA next year.

Last month, San Diego voters rejected ballot Measure C, which would have raised hotel room taxes to partially fund a downtown football stadium for the Chargers. Support came up short for the measure, which required two-thirds voter approval. Fifty-seven percent of voters cast their ballots against the measure and 43 percent voted in favor of it.

Soon after the measure failed, Spanos sent a letter to Chargers fans thanking everyone who supported the measure, and said the team’s future has not yet been decided, and would not be decided until after football season ends.

"In terms of what comes next for the Chargers, it's just too early to give you an answer," Spanos said. "We are going to diligently explore and weigh our options, and do what is needed to maintain our options, but no decision will be announced until after the football season concludes and no decision will be made in haste."

"I'm really looking at the support we're going to get or not get. If we get 30 or 35 percent voter approval, that will tell me something. If we get 55 to 60 percent, that's pretty compelling. That will tell me something else. But until Tuesday comes and we see the actual vote, there is no Plan B, there is no second strategy in terms of 'If I get 50 plus one, this is what I'm going to do.' I want to wait and see what the outcome is and then I'm going to take my time afterwards and decide what I want to do."